84 Lumber

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84 Lumber Company
Type Private
Founded 1956
Headquarters Eighty Four, Pennsylvania
Key people Joseph A Hardy III, founder and CEO;
Maggie Hardy Magerko, president and owner
Industry Building materials and retail
Products Building materials and supplies
Revenue $3.92 billion (2006)
Employees 10,500
Website www.84Lumber.com

84 Lumber is an American building materials chain. 84 Lumber Company is the second largest privately held building materials supplier to professional contractors in the country, behind Pro-Build Holdings of Denver (with $5.95 billion in sales in 2006). Headquartered in the Pittsburgh Metro Area town of Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, it was founded in 1956 by Joseph Hardy. 84 had 475 store locations in 35 states at the end of 2006.

84 Lumber is the tenth largest home improvement store in the nation, according to Home Channel News, a trade publication that covers LBM and home improvement retailing. While the company saw its performance slip in the beginning of the 21st century, the opening of many new stores in Southern states, in anticipation of a post-Katrina building boom, has reinvigorated the corporation. 84 Lumber also follows a different business model than its chief competitors, operating more like a large version of a hardware store than a big-box home improvement center. The company emphasizes creating no-frills stores and selling low-cost materials, especially of their trademark lumber and wood products. In a typical 84 Lumber store, one is more likely to find a greater assortment of building equipment than in a standard Lowe's or Home Depot. However, 84 Lumber carries a much smaller assortment of high-tech and high-end home and garden products. In addition to the retail stores, the corporation operates 20 truss plants which manufacture roof trusses, floor trusses and wall panels.

The company was title sponsor of the PGA Tour event 84 Lumber Classic at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. However, management decided to terminate their contract with the PGA, in hopes of investing in establishing a casino at Nemacolin in the near future.[citation needed]

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